European Constitutionalism beyond Lisbon

As Europe's leaders seek to finally secure the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon after the Irish "no" vote, it is time to take a step back and review, in a broader perspective, the past decade of attempts at European constitutional reform. This book discusses the changes that had been envisaged under the EU's Constitutional Treaty and the Treaty of Lisbon. It also shows, in a number of areas of European integration, the continuity of Europe's constitutional development before and beyond Lisbon. The subjects covered include treaty-making and understanding the outcome of referendums; the process of de-pillarization and the development of the EU's human rights agenda; citizenship, migration, and foreign policy; the EU's "social market economy;" the role of national parliaments and the search for more executive accountability and democratic legitimacy in the EU; and the issue of democracy and transparency. Views on the future of European constitutionalism conclude the discussion.